WO2017144095A1

WO2017144095A1 - Bucket wheel machine system with lifting arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2017144095A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/053907
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl SIEBENBÄCK
Original assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property Ab
Priority date: 2016-02-25
Filing date: 2016-02-25
Publication date: 2017-08-31
Also published as: CN209144885U; AU2016394648A8; AU2016394648A1; AU2016394648B2; AU2016394648B8; ZA201804840B

Abstract

The invention relates to a bucket wheel machine system and to a method for maintenance of such bucket wheel machine. In order to allow for a reduction in the amount of time the bucket wheel machine is not operating due to maintenance and the like, a bucket wheel machine system is proposed comprising a bucket wheel machine (100) including a base (102) and an operating block (104) detachably supported on the base (102), the operating block (104) comprising a bucket wheel (106) and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute (108), and a lifting arrangement (118) for being attached to the operating block (104) such that the operating block (104) can be separated from the base (102) upon lifting the lifting arrangement (118).

Description

Bucket wheel machine system with lifting arrangement

Field of invention

The present invention relates to a bucket wheel machine system including a bucket wheel machine like a bucket wheel reclaimer, a bucket wheel excavator or a bucket wheel stacker reclaimer and to a method for maintenance of such bucket wheel machine.

Background art

During the service life of a bucket wheel machine like a bucket wheel reclaimer, it is repeatedly necessary to provide maintenance, in particular of those parts which are subject to intense wear and tear during operation, e.g. the bucket wheel, the bucket wheel chute, the ring chute and the bucket wheel drive.

In case replacements for the elements to be maintained are available, the known approach on this includes removing the ring chute, the bucket wheel chute, the bucket wheel drive and eventually the bucket wheel separately from the bucket wheel reclaimer, followed by mounting the replacement bucket wheel, the replacement bucket wheel drive, the replacement bucket wheel chute and the replacement ring chute, including the necessary adjustments therebetween. This known approach, however, is time consuming, which leads to a significant amount of time during which the bucket wheel reclaimer is not operating.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a bucket wheel machine system and a method for maintenance of such bucket wheel machine allowing for a reduction in the amount of time the bucket wheel machine is not operating due to maintenance and the like.

In view of such object, according to a first aspect, a bucket wheel machine system is provided comprising a bucket wheel machine including a base and an operating block detachably supported on the base, the operating block comprising a bucket wheel and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute, and a lifting arrangement for being attached to the operating block such that the operating block can be separated from the base upon lifting the lifting arrangement.

According to a second aspect, a bucket wheel machine is provided for a bucket wheel machine system, wherein the bucket wheel machine includes a base and an operating block detachably supported on the base, the operating block comprising a bucket wheel and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute, wherein the operating block includes anchorage points for attaching a lifting arrangement such that the operating block can be separated from the base upon lifting the lifting arrangement.

According to a third aspect, an operating block for a bucket wheel machine system or for a bucket wheel machine is provided, wherein the operating block is arranged for being detachably supported on a base of the bucket wheel machine, the operating block comprising a bucket wheel and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute, wherein the operating block includes anchorage points for attaching a lifting arrangement such that the operating block can be separated from the base upon lifting the lifting arrangement.

According to a fourth aspect, a lifting arrangement for an operating block of a bucket wheel machine is provided, the operating block comprising a bucket wheel and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute, wherein the lifting arrangement is arranged for lifting the operating block upon separation of the operating block from a base of the bucket wheel machine. It was realized that there is a possibility for reducing the amount of time needed, for example, for replacement of an operating block (which might include the bucket wheel, the ring chute, the bucket wheel chute and even the bucket wheel drive) if the process of separating the major elements of the operating block as in the conventional approach is eliminated from the process of removing an in-place operating block and if furthermore the process of putting in such major elements one by one is replaced by a single replacement of the operating block as a whole.

This includes a shift in perspective, while previously, for example, the bucket wheel was considered as an individual item subject to a replacement as such, and - according to the invention - the bucket wheel is now part of the operating block, which is subject to the replacement as such.

Furthermore, the primary considerations underlying the design of the elements of the operating block and the overall design of the operating block are directed to the actual operation of the bucket wheel machine and do not necessarily allow for a secure and controlled separation of such operating block from the remainder of the bucket wheel machine. In view thereof, rather than limiting the operational parameters of the bucket wheel machine, the present invention provides for a lifting arrangement, which is to detachably attached to the operating block and allows for the separation thereof from the base on which the operating block otherwise rests during operation. To a certain degree, the benefits of the invention are also achieved if there is only one operating block, which is separated from the base of the bucket wheel machine for maintenance and the like, as already such separation allows for putting the operating block into a position where maintenance (including further disassembling of the operating block or its components) is provided more easily or safely (which typically results in a reduced demand in time). Just putting the separated operating block on the ground or on a dedicated support structure may ease the access to the operating block in comparison to a situation where the operating block (or the separate elements thereof) is provided in its operational place on the base of the bucket wheel machine.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the operating block includes a chute side bearing housing and an opposite bearing housing (e.g. a drive side bearing housing) being detachably secured to the base, respectively, wherein the chute side bearing housing is provided with a support structure supporting the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute, wherein the lifting arrangement is arranged for being attached to the opposite bearing housing and for being attached to the support structure, either directly or at least via the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute.

The bucket wheel typically presents the major portion in weight of an operating block according to the invention, while, in operation, the bucket wheel is supported by bearings allowing for the rotation of the bucket wheel. It was realized that the lifting arrangement may advantageously be attached to the housings of such bearings. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute is supported (directly) by such housing. Specifically, the support structure of the chute side bearing housing may support the bucket wheel chute, which in turn may support the ring chute. The support structure is, in such case, preferably connected to the bucket wheel chute in such manner that the lifting arrangement may be coupled to the support structure so that the lifting arrangement and the support structure are connected to each which just a portion of the bucket wheel chute be sandwiched there between. This is beneficial insofar as the bucket wheel chute thus merely supports the ring chute while it is not subject to any load between the support structure and the lifting arrangement. In an advantageous modification of the above embodiment, the lifting arrangement comprises a first portion arranged for being attached to the opposite bearing housing and a second portion arranged for being attached to the support structure. The lifting arrangement needs not to be provided in form of a singular frame or item and may as well be provided in form of two separate portions, reducing limitations to the design of the lifting arrangement otherwise resulting from any structural element of the bucket wheel machine between the opposite bearing housing (e.g. drive side bearing housing) and the chute side bearing housing. Nevertheless, the invention also includes the case that the lifting arrangement is provided in the form of, for example, an integral frame or the like. A connection between portions of the lifting arrangement needs not to be rigid in all aspects and it is also possible to provide a collapsible lifting arrangement.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the operating block further comprises a bucket wheel drive in operating connection with the bucket wheel, wherein the lifting arrangement comprises an arm for being attached to the bucket wheel drive.

It is advantageous if the bucket wheel drive is also part of the operating block and may be separated from the remainder of the bucket wheel machine together with the other elements of the operating block, as this further increases the reduction in the amount of time otherwise needed. The provision of the arm of the lifting arrangement makes sure that the bucket wheel drive is safely secured in relation to the lifting arrangement, which is particularly relevant in case the lifting arrangement is attached to the bearing housings of the bucket wheel (so that the positions of the bucket wheel axis and the bucket wheel chute and the ring chute (if present) are defined with respect to the lifting arrangement), which may still allow for a rotation of the bucket wheel, so that also the bucket wheel drive in total may otherwise similarly rotate.

The bucket wheel drive is preferably provided on the side of the bucket wheel opposite to the bucket wheel chute (such that the opposite bearing housing may be considered then as the drive side bearing housing). The indication that the bucket wheel drive is in operating connection with the bucket wheel means that the bucket wheel drive is indeed coupled to the bucket wheel such that an operation of the bucket wheel drive has an effect on the bucket wheel, i.e. that the bucket wheel drive needs not to be separated from the bucket wheel prior to removal of the operating block.

According to a yet further preferred embodiment, the base and/or operating block include one or more positioning elements for guiding in an attachment procedure of the base and the operating block.

Even though the provision of the lifting arrangement is of assistance in the handling of the operating block upon separation and re-insertion, it is of benefit to provide additional structure guidance or assistance for a correct positioning of the operating block in relation to the base of the bucket wheel machine.

According to another preferred embodiment, the bucket wheel machine system further comprises a second operating block.

As indicated above, it is of particular advantages, even though not necessary to the invention, to provide a replacement operating block for exchange with the operating block in the bucket wheel machine. By this it is possible that the maintenance of the operating block is done while the bucket wheel machine is in operation again, using the replacement operating block. In case a number of bucket wheel machines are considered in the context of the invention, it may be sufficient to provide just one additional operating block, so that the operating blocks are "rotated" between the different bucket wheel machines.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the bucket wheel machine system further comprises a support platform for receiving and supporting an operating block and a lifting arrangement.

The support platform allows for a defined placement of an operating block (together or without the lifting arrangement) which was separated from the base. Preferably, the support platform mimics to a certain degree the arrangement of the base of the bucket wheel machine normally receiving or supporting the operating block, while it is further preferable that the support platform is designed (apart from its receiving or supporting aspect) for allowing a convenient access for maintenance personnel to the operating block. As the operating block is typically received in an opening of some sort in the base of the bucket wheel machine, the support platform may have a similar opening. The platform may be provided in form of a framework or of a stage and the like, including one or more floors for access. The support platform is generally arranged for receiving and supporting an operating block, so that the same platform may be used for either one of an in-place operating block (after removal from the bucket wheel machine) or a replacement operating block (prior to installation thereof on the base of the bucket wheel machine). The support platform may indeed be provided with two or more areas for receiving and supporting an operating block. Furthermore, the support platform may be movable or even self- propelling. It is possible that such movable or self-propelling support platform provided with a replacement operating block is brought near to a bucket wheel machine, from which the in-place operating block is removed and placed on a designated area of the support platform, while - possibly at the same time - the replacement operating block is taken from the support platform and placed on the base of the bucket wheel machine. The support platform may even incorporate lifting means like a crane for such process.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, the bucket wheel machine system further comprises an anchoring structure for anchoring the base prior to a separation of the operating block. The operating block typically has a considerable weight, the removal of which might have an impact on the overall balancing of the bucket wheel machine. In order to compensate for this, the anchoring structure may be provided.

According to a fifth aspect, a method for removing a bucket wheel and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute from a bucket wheel machine including a base on which the bucket wheel and the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute are detachably supported is provided, the method comprising a block provision step of providing the bucket wheel and the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute as an operating block which is detachably supported on the base, an attachment step of attaching a lifting arrangement to the operating block, a separation step of detaching the whole operating block from the base, and a lifting step of lifting the operating block away from the base.

In a preferred embodiment, the above mentioned method for removing the bucket wheel and at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute is included in a method for maintaining a bucket wheel machine including a base and the operating block detachably supported on the base, said method for maintain further comprising a replacement provision step of providing a replacement operating block, a replacement attachment step of detachably attaching the replacement operating block on the base of the bucket wheel machine after removing the previous operating block, and a maintenance step of maintaining the removed operating block separated from the bucket wheel machine.

As mentioned above, a particular benefit is involved in case a removed operating block is directly replaced mainly by a further operating block such that the bucket wheel machine may resume operation as soon as possible. As to the advantages, preferred embodiments and details of the method and its preferred embodiments, reference is made to the corresponding aspects and embodiments described above with respect to the cutter assembly.

Brief description of the drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Fig. 1: shows a sectional view of a portion of a bucket wheel machine according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2: shows views of a combination of an operating block and a lifting arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3: shows the lifting arrangement of Fig. 2 in isolation;

Fig. 4: shows a view of a drive side bearing housing according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5: shows a basic framework of a support platform according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6: schematically shows an operating block in combination with a lifting arrangement on a support platform according to an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 7: shows a schematic flow diagram illustrating a method for maintaining a bucket wheel machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

Description of the invention Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a portion of a bucket wheel machine 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The bucket wheel machine 100 includes a base 102 and an operating block 104. The operating block 104 includes a bucket wheel 106, a bucket wheel chute 108, a ring chute (not shown) and a bucket wheel drive 116.

The bucket wheel 106 is provided with a chute side bearing provided in a chute side bearing housing 112 and a drive side bearing housed in a drive side bearing housing 114. The operating block 104 is provided as a combination and rests on the chute side bearing housing 112 and the drive side bearing housing 114, which are supported by the base 102 of the bucket wheel machine. Furthermore, the bucket wheel chute is provided such that, upon operation, material from the bucket wheel 106 is directed to a conveyor 110 of the bucket wheel machine.

The bucket wheel chute 108 is supported by a support structure 130, which, in turn, is supported by the chute side bearing housing 112.

The operation of the bucket wheel machine 100 according to the present embodiment of the invention corresponds to that of a conventional bucket wheel machine, such that a detailed explanation thereof may be omitted, as the skilled person is already familiar with such operation and the details thereof.

The bucket wheel machine 100 differs from a conventional bucket wheel machine in that the operating block 104 is provided for being detached and separated from the base 102, such that the bucket wheel 106, the bucket wheel chute 108, the ring chute and the bucket wheel drive 116 can be removed from the base 102 of the bucket wheel machine 100 in combination.

Fig. 2 shows views of a combination of an operating block 104 and a lifting arrangement 118 according to an embodiment of the invention. The lifting arrangement 118 is connected to the operating block 104 at the drive side bearing housing 114 and the chute side bearing housing 112 (see Fig. 1). While the lifting arrangement 118 is held by cables 120, the lifting arrangement 118 thus holds the operating block 104 (which is shown here without the bucket wheel drive 116). As particularly apparent from Fig. 2c), the lifting arrangement 118 includes an arm 122 for attachment of the bucket wheel drive 116 thereto, such that the bucket wheel drive 116 (if provided together with the operating block 104) is supported by the arm 122 and the connection to the bucket wheel 106.

The illustrations given in Fig. 2a) and 2b) show that the drive side bearing housing 114 is further provided with positioning pins 124, which are provided for assistance in

positioning the operating block 104 on the base 102 of a bucket wheel machine 100 or on a support platform 132 (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 6).

Fig. 3 shows the lifting arrangement 118 of Fig. 2 in isolation. As indicated above, the lifting arrangement 118 includes an arm 122 for attachment of the bucket wheel drive 116. Furthermore, the lifting arrangement 118 includes a connection section 126 for the support structure 130 (see Fig. 1) and a connection section 128 for the drive side bearing housing 114 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Fig. 4 shows a view of a drive side bearing housing 114 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The drive side bearing housing 114 is provided with positioning pins 124 (see also Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b), which extend downwards from the drive side bearing housing 114, which is shown here as being supported and secured to the base 102.

Fig. 5 shows a basic framework of a support platform 132 according to an embodiment of the invention. The framework of the support platform 132 includes a resting section for a drive side bearing housing 114 of an operating block 104 (see above) and a resting section 136 for a chute side bearing housing 112 of the operating block 104 (see above). The resting sections 134, 136 are provided with receiving holes 138 for the positioning pins 124 of the bearing housings 112, 114.

Fig. 6 schematically shows an operating block 104 in combination with a lifting arrangement 118 on a support platform 132 according to an embodiment of the invention. The operating block 104 is separated from the base 102 of the bucket wheel machine 100 and provided on the support platform 132, for example, for maintenance of the operating block 104. As one can see from the illustration of Fig. 6, the support platform 132 is arranged such that the operating block 104 may be received therein in such manner that it is accessible to, for example, maintenance personal.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic flow diagram illustrating a method for maintaining a bucket wheel machine 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. In a first block provision step 150, an operating block 104 is provided, including the bucket wheel 106, the ring chute, the bucket wheel chute 108 and the bucket wheel drive 116 of the bucket wheel machine 100. The operating block 104 is provided such that it is detachably supported on a base 102 of the bucket wheel machine. Further, a replacement provision step 152 is provided, which may be partially parallel to the block provision step 150. In the replacement provision step, a replacement operating block 104 is provided.

In an attachment step 154, a lifting arrangement 118 (see Fig. 3) is attached to the operating block 104. This is followed by a separation step 156, in which the whole operating block 104 is detached from the base 102 of the bucket wheel machine 100. Once the separation is complete, a lifting step 158 follows, in which the operating block 104 is lifted away from the base 102 of the bucket wheel machine 100 due to a lifting of the lifting arrangement 118 to which the operating block 104 is attached.

Once the operating block 104 is thus removed from the remainder of the bucket wheel machine 100, the replacement operating block 104 is detachably attached to the base 102 of the bucket wheel machine 100 in a replacement attachment step 160, which includes further measures for bringing the bucket wheel machine into an operational state.

The removed operating block 104, as it is separated from the bucket wheel machine 100, is made subject of a maintenance step 162. Once the maintaining of the removed operating block 104 is completed, this operating block may be then provided as a replacement operating block (see step 152). After the replacement attachment step 160, the process may, after some operation of the bucket wheel machine 100, further flow to a further attachment step 154 of (again) attaching a lifting arrangement 118 to the operating block 104.

Depending on the particular aspects of the bucket wheel machine 100, the method may additionally include an incurring step (not shown) in which the base or some other suitable portion of the bucket wheel machine is incurred, so to compensate for the change in weight distribution due to the separation of the operating block 104 from the remainder of the bucket wheel machine 100.

Although in the figures, aspects of the invention are shown in combination, the different aspects described herein also can be applied separately.

List of Reference Signs

100 Bucket wheel machine

102 Base of bucket wheel machine

104 Operating block

106 Bucket wheel

108 Bucket wheel chute

110 Conveyor

112 Chute side bearing housing

114 Opposite bearing housing (drive side bearing housing)

116 Bucket wheel drive

118 Lifting arrangement

120 Cable

122 Drive arm of lifting arrangement

124 Positioning pin (positioning element)

126 Connection section for support structure

128 Connection section for drive side bearing housing

130 Support structure for bucket wheel chute

132 Support platform

134 Resting section for drive side bearing housing

136 Resting section for chute side bearing housing

138 Receiving hole for positioning pin (positioning element)

150 Block provision step

152 Replacement provision step

154 Attachment step

156 Separation step

158 Lifting step

160 Replacement attachment step

162 Maintenance step

Claims

1. A bucket wheel machine system, comprising:

a bucket wheel machine (100) including a base (102) and an operating block (104) detachably supported on the base (102), the operating block (104) comprising a bucket wheel (106) and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute (108), and

a lifting arrangement (118) for being attached to the operating block (104) such that the operating block (104) can be separated from the base (102) upon lifting the lifting arrangement (118).

2. The bucket wheel machine system according to claim 1,

wherein the operating block (104) includes a chute side bearing housing (112) and an opposite bearing housing (114) being detachably secured to the base (102), respectively, wherein the chute side bearing housing (112) is provided with a support structure (130) supporting the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute (108),

wherein the lifting arrangement (118) is arranged for being attached to the opposite bearing housing (114) and for being attached to the support structure (130), either directly or at least via the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute (108).

3. The bucket wheel machine system according to claim 2,

wherein the lifting arrangement (118) comprises a first portion arranged for being attached to the opposite bearing housing (114) and a second portion arranged for being attached to the support structure (130).

4. The bucket wheel machine system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating block (104) further comprises a bucket wheel drive (116) in operating connection with the bucket wheel (106),

wherein the lifting arrangement (118) comprises an arm (122) for being attached to the bucket wheel drive (116).

5. The bucket wheel machine system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (102) and/or operating block (104) include one or more positioning elements (124, 138) for guiding in an attachment procedure of the base (102) and the operating block (104).

6. The bucket wheel machine system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second operating block (104).

7. The bucket wheel machine system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a support platform (132) for receiving and supporting an operating block (104) and a lifting arrangement (118).

8. The bucket wheel machine system according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an anchoring structure for anchoring the base (102) prior to a separation of the operating block (104).

9. A bucket wheel machine (100) for a bucket wheel machine system according to any one of the preceding claims,

wherein the bucket wheel machine (100) includes a base (102) and an operating block (104) detachably supported on the base (102),

the operating block (104) comprising a bucket wheel (106) and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute (108),

wherein the operating block (104) includes anchorage points for attaching a lifting arrangement (118) such that the operating block (104) can be separated from the base (102) upon lifting the lifting arrangement (118).

10. An operating block (104) for a bucket wheel machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or for a bucket wheel machine (100) according to claim 9,

wherein the operating block (104) is arranged for being detachably supported on a base (102) of the bucket wheel machine (100),

the operating block (104) comprising a bucket wheel (106) and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute (108), wherein the operating block (104) includes anchorage points for attaching a lifting arrangement (118) such that the operating block (104) can be separated from the base (102) upon lifting the lifting arrangement (118).

11. A lifting arrangement (118) for an operating block (104) of a bucket wheel machine (100), the operating block (104) comprising a bucket wheel (106) and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute (108), wherein the lifting arrangement (118) is arranged for lifting the operating block (104) upon separation of the operating block (104) from a base (102) of the bucket wheel machine (100).

12. A method for removing a bucket wheel (106) and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute (108) from a bucket wheel machine (100) including a base (102) on which the bucket wheel (106) and the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute (108) are detachably supported, the method comprising:

a block provision step (150) of providing the bucket wheel (106) and the at least one of the ring chute and the bucket wheel chute (108) as an operating block (104) which is detachably supported on the base (102),

an attachment step (154) of attaching a lifting arrangement (118) to the operating block (104),

a separation step (156) of detaching the whole operating block (104) from the base (102), and

a lifting step (158) of lifting the operating block (104) away from the base (102).

13. A method for maintaining a bucket wheel machine (100) including a base (102) and an operating block (104) detachably supported on the base (102), the operating block (104) comprising a bucket wheel (106) and at least one of a ring chute and a bucket wheel chute (108), the method comprising:

a replacement provision step (152) of providing a replacement operating block

(104),

the steps (150, 154, 556, 158) of the method for removing according to claim 12, an replacement attachment step (160) of detachably attaching the replacement operating block (104) on the base (102) of the bucket wheel machine (100), and a maintenance step (162) of maintaining the removed operating block (104) separated from the bucket wheel machine (100).